Destination Boarding: Recent Episodes
Amanda Ferrari
Hello and welcome to Destination Boarding your go-to podcast for tips and tricks from a boarding school insider! In this podcast, host Lucy Samuels will be talking all things boarding, from packing those bags for the first time, to waving the kids goodbye, what to expect from life as a boarder and beyond! We'll also be chatting to some phenomenal graduates who attended an array of boarding schools across Australia and how it shaped them into the people they are today!
So if you're thinking of sending your kids away to school, or you're sitting on the fence, hopefully this podcast will help you make that BIG decision. I promise it will be life changing. Follow us on socials @boardingexpo or visit our website www.boardingexpo.com.au
Welcome to Destination Boarding – the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools.
I’m your host Amanda Ferrari from Boarding Schools Expo and in this series A Road to Mount Isa I’ll be introducing you to our schools that are heading to Mount Isa with us in December.
It’s our second event up north and this year we thought it was a great idea to coincide with Sports for Bush Kids week – a week where around 70 families travel hundreds of kilometres from Karumba in the north, Richmond to the east, Windorah to the south, and west into the Northern Territory, to take part in a number of sports. It’s hosted annually by the Isolated Children’s Parents Association Mount Isa Branch of the Air and this year, 2024 is their 25th Anniversary.
During this podcast series we’re looking forward to getting to know our Queensland boarding schools that little bit better. We’re exploring their connections to our most remote families and their commitment or sense of social responsibility to ensure that families have access to face to face engagement with a variety of boarding schools – we all know that a website can only tell part of the story. It’s the people that bring any story to life.
Boarding school is part of life for our rural and remote families and none more so than those in far north west Queensland and the Territory. We are excited to bring boarding schools closer to them so they can explore their options and meet key representatives from each school and really focus on discussing the key elements of what each school can provide for their biggest asset – their country child. We’re so grateful to the 14 schools that will be joining us and encourage any others that are listening to register – it’s not too late to join the podcast event.
Joining us in Mount Isa this year is Anglican Church Grammar School from Brisbane. Well that’s their ‘official’ name but Churchie is how they’re known.
I was looking forward to this chat as the new Head of Boarding at Churchie is Mike Symons, who has recently relocated to Brisbane with his family following 15 years at The King’s School in Sydney. Mike sat down with Churchie’s Headmaster, Dr Alan Campbell to talk to me about their boarding program and their very strong ties to rural and remote families.
Mike and Alan were completely engaging and the impassioned way they talk about their involvement with the education of young men from country Australia further cements the values on which Churchie was founded.
These chats go beyond the brochure, beyond the website. They show you that the people that lead our boarding schools do so with heart and an authenticity that can only provide assurance to families that their children are in good hands.
Mike Symons became synonymous at King’s for community engagement and putting out a welcome mat that truly ensured everyone that came across his path was at ease. Whilst it’s early days for Mike at Churchie, you can absolutely hear that his practice of heartfelt leadership will endure and that Churchie will, without doubt, benefit from his appointment.
Churchie is hitting the road with us again this year as we head to Mount Isa and we’re looking forward to having them.
Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast.
Churchie: https://boardingexpo.com.au/schools/anglican-church-grammar-school-churchie/
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Welcome to Destination Boarding – the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools.
I’m your host Amanda Ferrari from Boarding Schools Expo and in this series A Road to Mount Isa I’ll be introducing you to our schools that are heading to Mount Isa with us in December.
It’s our second event up north and this year we thought it was a great idea to coincide with Sports for Bush Kids week – a week where around 70 families travel hundreds of kilometres from Karumba in the north, Richmond to the east, Windorah to the south, and west into the Northern Territory, to take part in a number of sports. It’s hosted annually by the Isolated Children’s Parents Association Mount Isa Branch of the Air and this year, 2024 is their 25th Anniversary.
During this podcast series we’re looking forward to getting to know our Queensland boarding schools that little bit better. We’re exploring their connections to our most remote families and their commitment or sense of social responsibility to ensure that families have access to face to face engagement with a variety of boarding schools – we all know that a website can only tell part of the story. It’s the people that bring any story to life.
Boarding school is part of life for our rural and remote families and none more so than those in far north west Queensland and the Territory. We are excited to bring boarding schools closer to them so they can explore their options and meet key representatives from each school and really focus on discussing the key elements of what each school can provide for their biggest asset – their country child. We’re so grateful to the 14 schools that will be joining us and encourage any others that are listening to register – it’s not too late to join the podcast event.
Thanks for listening to our podcast chat this week. We’re on our journey to Mount Isa this week with St Hilda’s School located on the Gold Coast.
Can you imagine heading off to boarding school from one of Australia’s most remote regions and landing on the sunny Gold Coast, home to miles and miles of golden beaches, theme parks, international events and let’s face it…schoolies week! I’m pretty sure I would have thrived as a boarder at St Hilda’s.
The girls have access to all that the coast and it’s waterways offer, surf sports, rowing, swimming… incredible facilities on campus and off.
Today I’m chatting with Amanda Rigby, the Head of Boarding at St Hilda’s School and I remained fascinated with the notion of receiving a top notch education at a boarding school located in our country’s most renown holiday destination.
Needless to say there’s more to St Hilda’s than it’s location and Amanda warmly effuses the essence of community and education that exists for close to 185 boarders from all over the country, and overseas.
We talk about St Hilda’s connection to our most remote families in the north west of Queensland as we prepare to head up to Mount Isa. I’ve said it before, we’re truly grateful to the schools that our coming with us and this series serves to share the good news about these awesome boarding schools.
Thank you for listening and please follow our podcast Destination Boarding and share this episode with a friend - or any of our episodes.
Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast.
St Hilda's School: https://www.sthildas.qld.edu.au
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Welcome to Destination Boarding – the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools.
I’m your host Amanda Ferrari from Boarding Schools Expo and in this series A Road to Mount Isa I’ll be introducing you to our schools that are heading to Mount Isa with us in December.
It’s our second event up north and this year we thought it was a great idea to coincide with Sports for Bush Kids week – a week where around 70 families travel hundreds of kilometres from Karumba in the north, Richmond to the east, Windorah to the south, and west into the Northern Territory, to take part in a number of sports. It’s hosted annually by the Isolated Children’s Parents Association Mount Isa Branch of the Air and this year, 2024 is their 25th Anniversary.
During this podcast series we’re looking forward to getting to know our Queensland boarding schools that little bit better. We’re exploring their connections to our most remote families and their commitment or sense of social responsibility to ensure that families have access to face to face engagement with a variety of boarding schools – we all know that a website can only tell part of the story. It’s the people that bring any story to life.
Boarding school is part of life for our rural and remote families and none more so than those in far north west Queensland and the Territory. We are excited to bring boarding schools closer to them so they can explore their options and meet key representatives from each school and really focus on discussing the key elements of what each school can provide for their biggest asset – their country child. We’re so grateful to the 14 schools that will be joining us and encourage any others that are listening to register – it’s not too late to join the podcast event.
Today I’m chatting with the energetic Head of Boarding at Marist College Ashgrove, Jim Noble.
Jim has been a dedicated leader in Queensland boarding schools for years now and his role at Marist cements his love of educating rural kids, giving them not only a love of learning but a truly immersive experience in city living.
Marist College Ashgrove is a little unique for a city based school, in that it’s located so close to Brisbane’s CBD though sits on close to 60 acres of land, trees and open spaces for the wildest at heart. Jim recognises that this is an incredible gift for their boys that come from our most remote regions – definitely cushions the blow of landing in the big smoke, as we discuss in the podcast.
Enjoy this conversation with Jim Noble on our podcast.
Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast.
Marist College Ashgrove: https://www.marash.qld.edu.au
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Welcome to Destination Boarding - the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools.
I’m your host Amanda Ferrari from Boarding Schools Expo and in this series A Road to Mount Isa I’ll be introducing you to our schools that are heading to Mount Isa with us in December.
It’s our second event up north and this year we thought it was a great idea to coincide with Sports for Bush Kids week - a week where around 70 families travel hundreds of kilometres from Karumba in the north, Richmond to the east, Windorah to the south, and west into the Northern Territory, to take part in a number of sports. It’s hosted annually by the Isolated Children’s Parents Association Mount Isa Branch of the Air and this year, 2024 is their 25th Anniversary.
During this series we’re looking forward to getting to know our Queensland boarding schools that little bit better. We’re exploring their connections to our most remote families and their commitment or sense of social responsibility to ensure that families have access to face to face engagement with a variety of boarding schools - we all know that a website can only tell part of the story. It’s the people that bring any story to life.
Boarding school is part of life for our rural and remote families and none more so than those in far north west Queensland and the Territory. We are excited to bring boarding schools closer to them so they can explore their options and meet key representatives from each school and really focus on discussing the key elements of what each school can provide for their biggest asset - their country child. We’re so grateful to the 14 schools that will be joining us and encourage any others that are listening to register - it’s not too late.
This episode was so so good. I managed to catch up with Katie Brown from Escott Station near Burketown in far North Queensland.
She was smack bang in the middle of Gregory mini-school and still carved out half an hour or so to chat with me about all things ICPA, Distance Education and what it’s like to send kids to boarding school from such remote regions.
Katie went to school in central Queensland, she was a day girl at a school that had boarders and as we know, boarders can have a massive impact in any day kids life given half the chance. She headed north to work as a governess on a station near Windorah, and, the rest is certainly her history. She met hubby Bernard in that first year - he was working on a neighbouring station - and together they have managed stations across northern Queensland and the territory.
Katie is a massive asset to remote northern Queensland. She’s a woman with an infectious energy and to say she’ll have a crack is probably an understatement.
She’s the current President of ICPA’s Mount Isa Branch of the Air - a branch which meets online and covers much of the top end of Australia. Part of her role is ensuring equity of access to educational opportunities for remote children and tackling issues in relation to secondary education whether that’s boarding schools, travel, assistance and the myriad of unique challenges that arise when home is hundreds of kilometres from a major centre.
One of the things we wanted to talk about is Sports for Bush Kids week which is held annually at Mount Isa to bring kids from Mount Isa School of the Air, Cloncurry and other towns together to learn sports, compete in sports and as I learned during our conversation, explore other extra curricular activities that wouldn’t normally be available to these kids.
We could have talked for much much longer but mini-school was waiting!
Hope you love this chat with Katie as much as I did.
Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing.
History of Escott Station: http://dropbears.com/australia/morning-glory/escott-history.htm
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here.
We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding. There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.
Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series.
Today we hear from Aspen Moore a boarder at Pymble Ladies’ College. Aspen is from Dubbo, NSW and started boarding school in Year 7.
This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness” and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.
“I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said.
“The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!”
We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.
We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead.
Pymble Ladies' College: https://www.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au/
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with the boarders themselves.
We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding. There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.
Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series.
Today we hear from Gemma Turkington a boarder at Wenona School. Gemma is from Griffith, NSW.
This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness” and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.
“I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said.
“The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!”
We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.
We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead.
Wenona School: https://www.wenona.nsw.edu.au/
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with the boarders themselves.
We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding. There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.
Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series.
Today we hear from Annabelle Williamson a boarder at Melbourne Girls Grammar School. Annabelle is from Quambatook, a town in northern Victoria. Annabelle headed off to boarding school in Year 9.
This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness” and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.
“I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said.
“The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!”
We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.
We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead.
Melbourne Girls Grammar School: https://www.mggs.vic.edu.au/
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with the boarders themselves.
We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding. There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.
Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series.
Today we hear from Daniel Canellis a boarder at St Gregory's College, NSW. Daniel is from Boorowa, NSW. Daniel headed off to boarding school in Year 7.
This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness” and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.
“I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said.
“The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!”
We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.
We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead.
St Gregory's College, Campbelltown: https://www.stgregs.nsw.edu.au/
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with the boarders themselves.
We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding. There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.
Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series.
Today we hear from Rose Fisher a boarder at Methodist Ladies' College (MLC), Melbourne VIC. Rose is from Browns Plains near Wodonga, VIC. Rose headed off to boarding school in Year 9.
This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness” and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.
“I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said.
“The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!”
We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.
We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead.
Methodist Ladies' College (MLC): https://www.mlc.vic.edu.au/
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with the boarders themselves.
We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding. There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.
Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series.
Today we hear from Annie Triggs a boarder at Scots All Saints College, Bathurst NSW. Annie is from Wantagong near Holbrook, NSW and headed off to boarding school in Year 7.
This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness” and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.
“I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said.
“The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!”
We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.
We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead.
Scots All Saints College: https://scotsallsaints.nsw.edu.au/
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Welcome to Destination Boarding wherever you’re tuning in from.
For those of you that are new to our podcast we are here to share the stories of boarding school life in Australia - many of our conversations are with ex-boarders or parents of boarders and lately we’ve been talking with some of the schools themselves about what makes their boarding community unique and how they feel about having boarders from across Australia and overseas as part of their broader school community.
Today’s chat is with Head of Frensham school in Mittagong NSW, Geoff Marsh. Geoff has made his entire career in education as a Physics and Chemistry teacher but it was following a stint with the Sydney Olympic Committee leading up to the 2000 Olympics that he understood what it took to bring a team together for the benefit of the community.
Over the past couple of decades since he has led in various capacities both at Frenhsam and other independent schools and now is proud to be the Head at the school he and his family has spent almost 20 years at.
Physics, chemistry, ex-olympian, businessman …. Is this what it takes to lead one of (if not the largest) girls boarding schools in Australia ?
Let’s find out in this chat with Geoff Marsh.
Frensham: https://www.frensham.nsw.edu.au/
Boarding Schools Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with the boarders themselves.
We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding. There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.
Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series.
Today we hear from Quenton Brooking a boarder at Haileybury Rendall School, Darwin. Quenton is from Derby, WA and headed off to boarding school in Year 11.
This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness” and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.
“I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said.
“The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!”
We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.
We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead.
Haileybury Rendall School: https://www.haileyburyrendall.com.au/
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
You may have heard of Oli through his wildly successful podcast Humans of Agriculture where he shares the stories of agriculture with the aim of connecting, engaging and inspiring people towards a happier, healthier and more prosperous planet.
He’s definitely on a mission…. Sharing the stories to showcase why the future is in agriculture.
It’s a mission that began with a family that originally came from the land - with childhood holidays spent on his Uncles farm in western Victoria while growing up in Sydney, and broadened as he made more country friends as a day student at Sydney boarding school Knox Grammar.
From Sydney Uni, to Marcus Oldham, with a year jackarooing at Harden after school and another year in Canada this champion of agriculture has an incredible drive to ensure that Australian’s everywhere remain connected to where their food and fibre comes from and in cementing that connection they understand how agriculture can lead to a prosperous world.
If you haven’t listened to Oli’s podcasts check them out at Humans of Agriculture…After you listen to this chat. Enjoy.
Humans of Agriculture: https://humansofagriculture.com/
Boarding Schools Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
It’s here…Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with the boarders themselves.
We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding. There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.
Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series.
Today we hear from Lucy Hall a boarder at St Catherine's School, Sydney. Lucy is from West of Parkes and headed off to boarding school in Year 7.
This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness” and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.
“I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said.
“The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!”
We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.
We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead.
St Catherine's School, Sydney: https://www.stcatherines.nsw.edu.au
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
It’s here...Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with the boarders themselves.
We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding. There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.
Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series.
Today we hear from Sophia Slater a boarder at Loreto Normanhurst in Sydney, NSW. Sophia is from Singleton and headed off to boarding school in Year 7.
This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness” and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.
“I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said.
“The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!”
We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.
We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead.
Loreto Normanhurst: https://www.loretonh.nsw.edu.au/
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Here we are again, another week, another great chat with someone that went to boarding school. You know I’m always on the look out for interesting people to talk to about their experience of boarding school - whether they were a boarder, or whether they were ‘infected’ by the country spirit of the boarders that were at their school - it’s always lovely to share the story. Please get in touch with me if you have someone you know would be great to hear from.
This week’s convo is with renown watercolour artist Sarah Smith. I really loved talking with Sarah and while we had a few connectivity issues I think you’ll enjoy her calm and confident style. Her reflections of her time at Kincoppal in Sydney’s eastern suburbs as a full time boarder are genuinely heartfelt and I think it’s really timely to hear of her struggles with homesickness during the first couple of years.
As she so beautifully puts it, you never really lose that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you leave home at the beginning of each term but the gathering of strength, the warmth of friendships made and the realisation of the opportunities along the way certainly lessen the depth of the pit over the years.
Sarah hails from Nevertire, a tiny rural village on the edge of the western slopes and plains in NSW. She is the second of five children (and one of five daughters I might add) to Jen and Mal Smith who are sheep and cattle farmers with cropping thrown in for good measure.
Here she speaks of her idyllic upbringing and her years at boarding school. Though it’s the 10 years since boarding school where she’s discovered via two careers her genius for intricate watercolour paintings and the bonus of enthusiastic boarding school mates who champion her achievements loudly and proudly. We did have a bit of a giggle about her 10 year reunion this year, she can’t quite believe she’s at the 10 year mark and we certainly had a bit of a laugh. To hear that her year group is as tight as ever really affirms the strength of bonds made in a boarding school community.
I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did.
Sarah Smith Watercolour: https://www.sarahwatercolour.com/
Boarding Schools Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
This week we sit down with Adam Larby, Head of The King’s School, Tudor House.
Adam Larby is the son of immigrants - a mother of Chinese heritage and a British father - who came to Australia and settled their young family in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Adam’s childhood was a pretty good one, Coogee beach down the road and a great education at some of Sydney’s best schools including senior years at The Scot’s College.
If podcasts were a visual medium you would see how his eyes light up when he speaks about his adventures at Glengarry (Scots bush campus where students in Year 9 spend half a year) and as he points out it was in it’s early days and not the sophisticated set up it is today.
Anyway this episode is not about Scots, but it was here that Adam discovered boarding and spent time during his senior years as a weekly boarder and then on to a gap year in Canada at one of their most renown boarding schools.
Once he returned, the obligatory degree in Arts at Sydney Uni - where generations of students who aren’t quite sure what they want to do or be have gone before him. But for Adam, whose connections to his school remained strong, he decided that a career in education was going to light his fire so to speak.
His love for education and wide open spaces have now come together and he is the newish’ Head of The King’s School, Tudor House campus. A preparatory day and boarding school for boys and girls from across Australia and overseas.
Prep boarding is not common in Australia, in fact Tudor House is one of only a couple that offer dedicated primary aged boarding.
I really wanted to know what it’s like for kids that live away from home from such a young age, and why parents choose that. Adam takes us through a day in the life of a Tudorian and of course we chat about the history of Tudor House - how the school came to be connected with The King’s School and the reasons behind the schools’ decision to go co-ed in the past few years.
Kids do thrive here - it sounds idyllic. Everything you could possibly imagine ! I wanted to know more about Tudor House and preparatory boarding and that’s why I lined up this interview with Adam.
Enjoy.
The King's School, Tudor House: https://www.tudorhouse.nsw.edu.au/
Boarding Schools Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
It’s here…Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast. Each week right through the summer school holidays (kicking off with a head start this week) we’ll be having short chats with the boarders themselves.
We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…. Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding. There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.
Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series.
Today we hear from Chavela Ellis a boarder at Canberra Grammar School. Chavela is from Queanbeyan and headed off to boarding school in Year 8.
This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness” and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.
“I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said.
“The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!”
We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.
We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead.
Canberra Grammar School: https://cgs.act.edu.au/
Boarding Expo: https://boardingexpo.com.au/
Boarding Expo 365: https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/
Emily Patterson’s bridging the great divide by sending her kids to country boarding schools.
Hello welcome back to Destination Boarding. Today’s guest is forthright and eloquent with her opinion…so much so that she suggested a couple of redactions before being released - there was even the possibility of re-record but I think you’ll agree we didn’t need to. It’s why we’re here - to have open honest authentic discussions.
Emily Patterson is a Sydney girl, mother of three, nurse and self-confessed rural wannabe. Don’t you love it. She’s also a great advocate for letting children grow into the most authentic, resilient humans they possibly can with limited interference from overarching expectations along the way.
I think we could have chatted all day but the most interesting thing about this episode is Emily and her husband have sent their daughter to boarding school in the country…and they have not stopped raving about the joys ever since.
Look we sprout forth about the pros of boarding school for our country kids all the time here - but rarely do we hear about the city kids that head over the great divide or south or north for that matter.
Scots All Saints at Bathurst was where the Patterson’s chose and in this episode you’ll find out why. After we’d finished recording Emily wanted me to make sure you knew that she doesn’t want to put down Sydney schools, independent or government and she’s really concerned it may seem that way. She just really knew that for their daughter, and their family -it wasn’t for them. She really does go on to say that it’s more about he parent’s expectations and academic competitiveness on behalf of their kids - not the schools’.
The other thing we chatted about after pressing stop on the recording was that we absolutely understand that boarding is not for every child, not for every family. It’s also not a bed of roses. Emily really wanted you to know that - there are certainly challenging times in the boarding house.
We do try to share the good stories about boarding school, we really want families to know their options, consider the alternatives and at the end of the day we recognise that everyone’s situation is unique to them. Absolutely and always.
Anyway on with the show. Enjoy.
Macquarie Anglican Grammar school is located almost right in the centre of NSW in Dubbo, well a couple of hours off but who’s counting…. More commonly known as MAGS their mission statement is pretty direct ‘to develop Resilient young people ready to make a difference in the world’
After chatting with their Headmaster, Craig Mansour, I’ve no doubt that there’ll be continual world changers coming out of Dubbo.
MAGS was founded in 2002 and is an Anglican Schools Corporation school - one of 19 across NSW including Orange Anglican Grammar in regional NSW.
Craig came to Dubbo from one of the corporation’s south coast schools and as soon as he landed he in 2015 he became aware that Dubbo needed a boarding school. As he’ll tell us, it was the sporting sidelines, the quiet conversations with parents … that all led to a strategic push to start a boarding program.
MAGS opened their doors to boarding students all four of them, in 2019 and the rest, as they say, is history…. Well it’s on its way to being the new history for MAGS in Dubbo.
Honestly this conversation with Craig was at times quite moving. You can really hear the emotions in his voice as he speaks incredibly candidly about the challenges, the triumphs and the creation of a culture at MAGS. A culture that rises up from the very beginnings of a boarding school community - Craig’s commitment to transition, to trying, to creating a legacy for the school and more broadly the vast region that his boarding cohort hails from.
I hope you love this chat as much as I did - and forgive both of us our croaky winter coughs and voices.
https://www.mags.nsw.edu.au
https://boardingexpo.com.au/
This is a really frank discussion with Yvette McDonald, who, among many other strings to her bow, is a parent of three ex boarders. The perspective you’re about to hear is one that’s often reserved for the corner table, quiet hushed discussions…. and often not shared.
For anyone that has sent their children to boarding schools from larger regional towns or cities, with a selection of schooling options right on their doorstep the decision to go down the boarding school route can often be a contentious one.
The inevitable scrutiny from family and friends, the sense of judgement, the feeling that you’re letting your home town down. Particularly if you’re a parent that always said you would never consider boarding school for your children - the parent that made their partner promise never to ask that of them.
Country towns (even the big ones) can be funny places…. On one hand the sense of community and belonging can wrap itself around you and give you confidence in your place in the world, but on the other you can sometimes feel as though you’re living under a microscope where your every move is monitored. On a good day that’s ok, but when there’s big personal decisions to be made it can feel suffocating, even intrusive. What I love about this chat with Yvette is that even though she recognised that she very securely went about choosing boarding school for their children with the understanding that it was all about them - no-one else.
Yvette and her husband Andrew were faced with these big decisions when they realised that their local options weren’t fulfilling everything they’d ever wanted for their kids - and for Yvette it was the added realisation that her own schooling in a smaller country town had not given her everything she needed to step confidently into the world. And it was a realisation tinged with sadness for her younger self.
This is a great chat with Yvette, a different perspective when parents decide to send their children to boarding school.
https://boardingexpo.com.au
Welcome to this episode of Destination Boarding where we talk about boarding school with families, ex-students, industry leaders and the executives of the schools themselves.
In this episode we’re talking with a young woman who has really shown commitment and determination to work towards her dream of becoming a doctor…. She hasn’t quite decided exactly which field of medicine she’ll ultimately go into but as she’s towards the end of her Degree in Medicine at Newcastle university these are the next things on her agenda.
Often when we think of students in the medical sciences we assume that academically they were shining stars from the womb! Chatting to Susannah we discover that quite often this is not the case, and she candidly shares with me what it was like to begin boarding school at Ascham in support classes for maths and English and gradually work her way up to the top rung.
Remarkably Susannah has another goal she’s working towards and that’s playing rugby for Australia. She’s been part of the Brumbies Super W team for a couple of years, taking a step back this year to focus on the last semesters of medicine but she has definitely not parked that ambition.
Growing up at Yass with her brothers and parents on their sheep and wool property, she headed off to the local primary school like every other kid around the district. It’s the unwavering determination and achievements of Susannah since beginning boarding school and university that we really shone a light on in this conversation.
We often talk about boarding school being an inclusive and wonderful time for families and the boarders and Susannah talks about this - her parents connections with other parents from her cohort of boarders, the fact they still gather every year for lunch at someone’s home from that year group, and the sense of community she felt right from the word go at Ascham.
I know you’ll enjoy this conversation with Susannah Cooke. Don’t forget to take a couple of minutes to Follow our podcast Destination Boarding, like this episode, rate it and share the series with friends and family. Thanks so much.
https://www.ascham.nsw.edu.au
https://boardingexpo.com.au
Welcome to this episode of Destination Boarding where we talk about boarding school with families, ex-students, industry leaders and the executives of the schools themselves.
Today we’re talking with Kate Kovacs - Kate is the Director of Boarding at Loreto Normanhurst. A school in Sydney’s northern suburbs that has a long history of catholic girls education and country boarding.
As with many modern day boarding houses, the mix is changing - there’s overseas boarders, metro boarders that come in during the week, but the core for most of our Australian boarding schools remains country - whether that’s remote, rural or large regional centres.
In this interview Kate takes us on her career path and how she came to be so involved with boarding at Loreto - now as Head of Boarding. Spanning over 30 years Kate is proud of her Loreto community and has certainly seen the changes and shifting dynamics of a boarding community… though it’s pretty evident that one thing remains true. The culture within the school is enhanced, indeed somewhat driven by the boarders.
I think we all really know this don’t we… but it’s great to hear it repeatedly as I do from the schools themselves. Hat in hand or not, when families from rural and regional areas look at boarding school as an option, do we put a value on the cultural assets they arrive with ?
I'm really pleased to let you know that Kate is also a Guest Panellist for our Australian Boarding Schools Summit streaming live on 13 October this year. She'll be joining me and three other panellists to discuss how we can best support our teenager from afar along with the boarding staff within the house.
Let’s chat with Kate Kovacs.
Loreto Normanhurst Boarding
Boarding Schools Expo
Peter Debus is the Managing Director of PrincipleFocus, a financial management and advisory business based in Dubbo NSW with branches in Sydney and Warren and servicing clients all over Australia.
Initially I wanted to talk to Pete about the decision he and his wife Virginia made to send their three children to boarding school from a regional centre with a plethora of educational offerings, and some of his responses really speak to an invisible pressure for some families certainly when they feel obligated to repeat the opportunities that were offered to them by their own parents.
We also discussed the financial implications of choosing boarding school - of course we did, Pete’s an accountant ! We discussed the various conversations you can have with schools and their offerings.
Wow this was a brilliant eye opening discussion - and Pete’s an engaging sort of guy. Full of stories - relatable stories.
Discussions around visions for your children, cultural diversity, a place to call home, boarding school communities, options for financial management through the boarding schools years.
I’m thrilled that he will also be a panelist for our Australian Boarding Schools Summit on 13th October - an online event that you can watch live or stream on demand. No surprises he’s on the panel discussion about financial management but I think you’ll agree after listening to this episode that his authenticity and relatability ensure we’ll keep having these conversations and letting families know that yes, it can be tough but there’s always a way through. Between you and me, I enjoyed this chat so much I’d love to have him on as a regular….. there’s a few more stories Pete can tell.
Enjoy.
www.principlefocus.com.au
www.riverview.nsw.edu.au
www.ascham.nsw.edu.au
Welcome to Episode 9 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to Quintin, an inspiring student from Haileybury Rendall School in Darwin, NT!
In this series Amanda Ferrari & Adelaide Vivers chat with current boarders from across Australia with the aim to give our new intake of boarders for 2023 some tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!
We would love you to share the student chats with any new boarders in your circle and if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by follow, liking and rating.
Enjoy today’s chat!
Welcome to Episode 8 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to Sylvia, a wonderful student from Wenona School in Sydney, NSW!
In this series Amanda Ferrari & Adelaide Vivers chat with current boarders from across Australia with the aim to give our new intake of boarders for 2023 some tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!
We would love you to share the student chats with any new boarders in your circle and if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by follow, liking and rating.
Enjoy today’s chat!
Welcome to Episode 7 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to both Mandy & Lara, students from Ipswich Girls' Grammar School in Ipswich, QLD!
In this series Amanda Ferrari & Adelaide Vivers chat with current boarders from across Australia with the aim to give our new intake of boarders for 2023 some tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!
We would love you to share the student chats with any new boarders in your circle and if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by follow, liking and rating.
Enjoy today’s chat!
Welcome to Episode 6 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to Oscar, a student from The King's School in Sydney, NSW!
In this series Amanda Ferrari & Adelaide Vivers chat with current boarders from across Australia with the aim to give our new intake of boarders for 2023 some tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!
We would love you to share the student chats with any new boarders in your circle and if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by follow, liking and rating.
Enjoy today’s chat!
Welcome to Episode 5 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to Sophie, a student from Kincoppal-Rose Bay School in Sydney, NSW!
In this series Amanda Ferrari & Adelaide Vivers chat with current boarders from across Australia with the aim to give our new intake of boarders for 2023 some tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!
We would love you to share the student chats with any new boarders in your circle and if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by follow, liking and rating.
Enjoy today’s chat!
Welcome to Episode 4 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to a two students Jack & Caite from The Armidale School in Armidale, NSW!
In this series Amanda Ferrari & Adelaide Vivers chat with current boarders from across Australia with the aim to give our new intake of boarders for 2023 some tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!
We would love you to share the student chats with any new boarders in your circle and if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by follow, liking and rating.
Enjoy today’s chat!
Welcome to Episode 3 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to an insightful student named Tess from Tara Anglican School for Girls in Sydney, NSW!
In this series Amanda Ferrari & Adelaide Vivers chat with current boarders from across Australia with the aim to give our new intake of boarders for 2023 some tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!
We would love you to share the student chats with any new boarders in your circle and if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by follow, liking and rating.
Enjoy today’s chat!
Welcome to Episode 2 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to an insightful student named Jasper from Newington College in Sydney, NSW!
In this series Amanda Ferrari & Adelaide Vivers chat with current boarders from across Australia with the aim to give our new intake of boarders for 2023 some tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!
We would love you to share the student chats with any new boarders in your circle and if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by follow, liking and rating.
Enjoy today’s chat!
Welcome to Episode 1 of our Summer Series: Nailing Homesickness where we chat to Ben Kelly from Calrossy Anglican School in Tamworth, NSW!
In this series Amanda Ferrari & Adelaide Vivers chat with current boarders from across Australia with the aim to give our new intake of boarders for 2023 some tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!
We would love you to share the student chats with any new boarders in your circle and if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by follow, liking and rating.
Enjoy today’s chat.
Welcome to the last episode of Series 2! Today we’re chatting with Waverley Stanley, an indigenous educationalist and the founder of Yalari Foundation. If you haven’t heard of Yalari, it’s an education foundation established in 2005 that provides indigenous children from regional, rural and remote communities across Australia the opportunity to receive a full boarding school scholarship for their entire secondary education.
They believe education is the key to generational change and a brighter future for Indigenous Australians and for our nation. They support their students for their entire secondary education and beyond with post-school opportunities. This year they have over 250 students on Yalari scholarships nationally, with an alumni group of 380 studying at universities, working or undertaking further training.
To say Waverley and his wife and co-founder, Llew Mullins are hands on would seem an understatement. They personally interview children across Australia each year for their program, and once on their journey the scholarship awardees are immersed in cultural learnings and camps in their school holidays - that’s 250 kids every year brought together in their year groups for mentoring, guidance and ensuring they have the tools to gain the most from their time at boarding school.
Waverley grew up in the town of Murgon, 300 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, and attended Murgon State School. It was at this school where his Grade 7 teacher, Mrs Rosemary Bishop, recognised Waverley’s potential and felt he deserved a chance for a brighter future. Mrs Bishop was instrumental in Waverley gaining a scholarship to attend Toowoomba Grammar School as a boarder for high school.
He acknowledges his future opportunities and successes were shaped by the education he received. In recognition of this opportunity and the desire for Indigenous generational change, Yalari was born and the Rosemary Bishop Indigenous Education Scholarship program established.
Enjoy this conversation with Waverley and don't forget to like, rate and review this podcast!
Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo. This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
Welcome to Season 2 Episode 8 of Destination Boarding!
We often talk about the differing needs of children, their interests, their strengths, challenges, maturity. And when we’re considering boarding schools for our children sometimes those differences come into play.
It’s not unusual to hear of families sending all of their children to different schools - in fact, it’s becoming increasingly more common. Boarding schools are built on a foundation of care and aspiration for your child. The aspiration to get the best of your child that they can muster. And I guess we all know that sometimes what’s good for the goose isn’t necessarily good for the gander.
Not the case for our guest today. Di Holz is from outback NSW’s opal town of Lightning Ridge. She had an adventurous child hood, the daughter of migrant parents who travelled back and forth across Australia chasing dreams and instilling in Di and her siblings a fascination for learning, and diversity of culture. Eventually the family settled in Lightning Ridge and Di’s Mum is a renowned Opal jeweller.
Di and hubby Russel made their home at Lightning Ridge and it’s there that they raised Zora, Archer and Mac - three young adults now all loving the paths they’re on.
I knew the Holz family from our own time at The King’s School in Sydney, and what I really wanted to talk about with Di was how did that school accommodate her sons and their different interests - Archer now a NSW Waratah and Australian rugby union representative, and Mac who is studying for a Bachelor of Business and Design now, and at school was a promising ballet dancer rising in the ranks of the performing arts. How did she find that King’s, a school often associated with sporting prowess and rough and tumble country boys, lift Mac up to shine in the performing arts and actually support partnerships that enabled him to reach the highest ranks.
The conversation jumps around a little and we did have a few problems with sound but please hang in there. Di is a few years beyond boarding school now but really brings home how valuable their time in Sydney was and the life long friendships made - for their entire family.
Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo. This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
Welcome to Season 2 Episode 7!
Today we’re talking with Fiona Aveyard.
Fiona’s an absolute trailblazer and this is not her first time behind the mic. She’s a farmer and lamb producer from Tullamore in NSW’s Central West. Her and husband Bill are fifth generation farmers and have established their own label Outback Lamb - a paddock to plate business supplying their lamb meat to the market.
It’s been a journey of discovery for Fiona, carving out a niche in a tough industry that being fresh food. She’s just been awarded a Nuffield Scholarship and I look forward to watching where that leads for her. The lamb meat industry is certainly benefiting from her drive and determination to establish consistency and marketability of her product.
Today we talk about her experience as a boarder and now, as a parent of four children two of whom are away at school, the comparisons between her time at boarding school and her childrens'. Boarding school is vastly different these days to what it was in the past, and Fiona really shines a light on the benefits, the challenges and the joy of building communities away from our home towns.
To hear Fiona describe the richness that boarding at school brings to her children’s lives is gold. Furthermore, when she speaks so fervently about the richness that our boarders bring to our schools…well that’s where she really shines. I loved this chat and I hope you do too.
Enjoy this conversation with Fiona Aveyard and don't forget to like, rate and review this podcast!
Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo. This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
Welcome to Season 2 Episode 7!
Today we’re talking with Fiona Aveyard.
Fiona’s an absolute trailblazer and this is not her first time behind the mic. She’s a farmer and lamb producer from Tullamore in NSW’s Central West. Her and husband Bill are fifth generation farmers and have established their own label Outback Lamb - a paddock to plate business supplying their lamb meat to the market.
It’s been a journey of discovery for Fiona, carving out a niche in a tough industry that being fresh food. She’s just been awarded a Nuffield Scholarship and I look forward to watching where that leads for her. The lamb meat industry is certainly benefiting from her drive and determination to establish consistency and marketability of her product.
Today we talk about her experience as a boarder and now, as a parent of four children two of whom are away at school, the comparisons between her time at boarding school and her childrens'. Boarding school is vastly different these days to what it was in the past, and Fiona really shines a light on the benefits, the challenges and the joy of building communities away from our home towns.
To hear Fiona describe the richness that boarding at school brings to her children’s lives is gold. Furthermore, when she speaks so fervently about the richness that our boarders bring to our schools…well that’s where she really shines. I loved this chat and I hope you do too.
Enjoy this conversation with Fiona Aveyard and don't forget to like, rate and review this podcast!
Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo. This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
Welcome to Season 2 Episode 6!
Alexandra Cowley is a force to be reckoned with. As an interpret traveller, wondering mostly solo around the world, before meeting her partner in London and settling in Singapore during COVID, Alex now resides in Manly working her dream job as the manager of The Exchange Group and an EA to her manager Jillian Kilby.
Brought up in Dubbo, NSW and heading off to Abbotsleigh for boarding school at the age of 13, Alex tells us about her time spent at boarding school and the years beyond. She tells the tale of how boarding life shaped her into the wonderful person she is today. As well as her short stint after school as an assistant house mistress imposing the rules, not breaking them.
Enjoy this conversation with @alexzacowley and don't forget to like, rate and review this podcast!
Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo. This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
Welcome to Season 2 Episode 6!
Alexandra Cowley is a force to be reckoned with. As an interpret traveller, wondering mostly solo around the world, before meeting her partner in London and settling in Singapore during COVID, Alex now resides in Manly working her dream job as the manager of The Exchange Group and an EA to her manager Jillian Kilby.
Brought up in Dubbo, NSW and heading off to Abbotsleigh for boarding school at the age of 13, Alex tells us about her time spent at boarding school and the years beyond. She tells the tale of how boarding life shaped her into the wonderful person she is today. As well as her short stint after school as an assistant house mistress imposing the rules, not breaking them.
Enjoy this conversation with @alexzacowley and don't forget to like, rate and review this podcast!
Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo. This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
Welcome to Season 2 Episode 5!
With a successful legal career, a happy family life and a valuable position as a pillar of his community, Barrister Stephen Lawrence looks like he pretty much has life sorted out.
He's been the mayor of a major regional city, he's a dedicated human rights campaigner, a champion for social justice and he's defended some of the worlds' most vulnerable souls, both here in Australia and Internationally. But as a youngster, his life was on a vastly different trajectory. By his own admission, he was on a one-way ticket to, well, no where good. Until, in desperation, his parents sent him to a boarding school for years 11 and 12 and that's a decision he now says probably saved his life. without that two years of boarding, the Stephen Lawrence of today would be very different and not necessarily good different. Now father to a son, Stephen talks to Destination Boarding about his own experience and how it will help him form him and his partners choices when it comes to their own sons future.
Enjoy this conversation with Stephen Lawrence and don't forget to like, rate and review this podcast!
Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo. This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
Tanya Heaslip is an acclaimed Australian author, a lawyer and an outback girl.
From her home in Alice Springs we talk about life growing up on a cattle station in the Northern Territory, the beginning of her education with School of the Air and then her tumultuous journey through boarding school in Adelaide.
Sadly for Tanya her experience of boarding school in the 70’s was not a good one - we acknowledge that the practices within boarding schools have changed dramatically over the decades and while her time was fraught with cruel staff and overbearing rules, she recognises that her friendships made at boarding school remain life long and the education she received literally opened up the world to her.
I want to say here, that boarding school in Australia today has transformed into nurturing dynamic and engaging communities for the most part. That stories like Tanya’s are rare indeed, and that the way we educate our youth has also changed. Interestingly the boarding school Tanya attended no longer exists - that’s saying something isn’t it ?
I guess the reason we wanted to chat to her was because she’s led a super interesting life, from the outback to life as a lawyer, to Prague as an English teacher and back again to beautiful Alice Springs. And despite her experience she absolutely credits her education and boarding school experience as the starting block for adventures.
Tanya was so easy to chat to, she’s warm and engaging and her books are an absolute tribute to the chapters of her diverse life.
If you’re keen to read her memoirs they are Alice to Prague (2019), An Alice Girl (2020) and Beyond Alice released last year 2021.
Tanya's Instagram: @tanyaheaslipauthor
Tanya's Website: https://www.tanyaheaslip.com.au
Enjoy this conversation with Tanya Heaslip.
Need to find the right boarding school for you or your child? Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo . This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
Tanya Heaslip is an acclaimed Australian author, a lawyer and an outback girl.
From her home in Alice Springs we talk about life growing up on a cattle station in the Northern Territory, the beginning of her education with School of the Air and then her tumultuous journey through boarding school in Adelaide.
Sadly for Tanya her experience of boarding school in the 70’s was not a good one - we acknowledge that the practices within boarding schools have changed dramatically over the decades and while her time was fraught with cruel staff and overbearing rules, she recognises that her friendships made at boarding school remain life long and the education she received literally opened up the world to her.
I want to say here, that boarding school in Australia today has transformed into nurturing dynamic and engaging communities for the most part. That stories like Tanya’s are rare indeed, and that the way we educate our youth has also changed. Interestingly the boarding school Tanya attended no longer exists - that’s saying something isn’t it ?
I guess the reason we wanted to chat to her was because she’s led a super interesting life, from the outback to life as a lawyer, to Prague as an English teacher and back again to beautiful Alice Springs. And despite her experience she absolutely credits her education and boarding school experience as the starting block for adventures.
Tanya was so easy to chat to, she’s warm and engaging and her books are an absolute tribute to the chapters of her diverse life.
If you’re keen to read her memoirs they are Alice to Prague (2019), An Alice Girl (2020) and Beyond Alice released last year 2021.
Tanya's Instagram: @tanyaheaslipauthor
Tanya's Website: https://www.tanyaheaslip.com.au
Enjoy this conversation with Tanya Heaslip.
Need to find the right boarding school for you or your child? Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo . This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
Welcome to Season 2 Episode 3!
Today I’m chatting with CEO of Australian Boarding Schools Association Richard Stokes.
The Australian Boarding Schools’ Association (ABSA), as the leading authority in Australia on boarding for school-aged children, promotes the interests and well-being of boarders, boarding staff, boarding parents and boarding institutions in Australia.
It is an umbrella organisation which fosters collegiality and professionalism at a regional, state and federal level. ABSA continues to advance the profile of boarding and best practice in boarding and facilitates communication on boarding matters between schools, hostels, educational bodies and governments both in Australia and overseas.
Richard has had a career spanning over 40 years in Australian boarding schools beginning in South Australia. First as a university student being a residential carer in a boarding school while he was studying for a BA leading into Education, then as Assistant Senior Boarding Master at St Peter’s Lutheran College in Brisbane and going on to be the Dean of Residential Care at one of the largest boys boarding schools in the country - St Joseph’s Nudgee College. A school renown across the country for having produced close to 30 Australian Rugby players.
Richard speaks of his enduring relationships formed during those years with parents and students, and the broader boarding school communities throughout Brisbane.
He has been involved with ABSA or its previous versions since 1985, and held positions from Treasurer to President and in 2007 became the first Executive Director to be appointed. A role which became full time in 2011. Check it out here: https://www.boarding.org.au
It’s with Richard’s depth of knowledge of the workings of a boarding school that he has been able to develop ABSA into the leading professional membership association that it is today. Leading the way for the setting of standards within Australian Boarding Schools.
What began as staff from a few boarding schools in and around Brisbane in the 1980s getting together to discuss ideas, challenges in the boarding house and generally support each other, has grown into a national body. Listened to by policy makers, and most importantly the 201 boarding schools that currently exist in Australia.
Since 2007 ABSA has developed the Duty of Care Certificate Course in Student Residential Care into a two book set which has become the standard for training of all Boarding Staff around Australia, has formed Divisions in all States to hold local professional development events, and has a National Office based in Brisbane.
I loved Richard’s deep understanding of how important culture is within boarding schools - how there are vast differences between a school with boarding versus a boarding school. Schools that see their boarding communities as ingrained in their whole value system.
You’ll hear about Richard’s absolute commitment, with his team at ABSA, to have all boarding staff accredited with professional Certificates and Diplomas - he absolutely understands that working within a boarding house brings with it a wide range of daily duties that go over and above what is brought to the classroom.
Furthermore he recognises the incredible opportunities for schools to encourage their teaching staff to become part of their boarding school houses and communities.
Enjoy this conversation with Richard Stokes and don't forget to like, rate and review this podcast!
Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo. This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
Welcome to Season 2 Episode 3!
Today I’m chatting with CEO of Australian Boarding Schools Association Richard Stokes.
The Australian Boarding Schools’ Association (ABSA), as the leading authority in Australia on boarding for school-aged children, promotes the interests and well-being of boarders, boarding staff, boarding parents and boarding institutions in Australia.
It is an umbrella organisation which fosters collegiality and professionalism at a regional, state and federal level. ABSA continues to advance the profile of boarding and best practice in boarding and facilitates communication on boarding matters between schools, hostels, educational bodies and governments both in Australia and overseas.
Richard has had a career spanning over 40 years in Australian boarding schools beginning in South Australia. First as a university student being a residential carer in a boarding school while he was studying for a BA leading into Education, then as Assistant Senior Boarding Master at St Peter’s Lutheran College in Brisbane and going on to be the Dean of Residential Care at one of the largest boys boarding schools in the country - St Joseph’s Nudgee College. A school renown across the country for having produced close to 30 Australian Rugby players.
Richard speaks of his enduring relationships formed during those years with parents and students, and the broader boarding school communities throughout Brisbane.
He has been involved with ABSA or its previous versions since 1985, and held positions from Treasurer to President and in 2007 became the first Executive Director to be appointed. A role which became full time in 2011. Check it out here: https://www.boarding.org.au
It’s with Richard’s depth of knowledge of the workings of a boarding school that he has been able to develop ABSA into the leading professional membership association that it is today. Leading the way for the setting of standards within Australian Boarding Schools.
What began as staff from a few boarding schools in and around Brisbane in the 1980s getting together to discuss ideas, challenges in the boarding house and generally support each other, has grown into a national body. Listened to by policy makers, and most importantly the 201 boarding schools that currently exist in Australia.
Since 2007 ABSA has developed the Duty of Care Certificate Course in Student Residential Care into a two book set which has become the standard for training of all Boarding Staff around Australia, has formed Divisions in all States to hold local professional development events, and has a National Office based in Brisbane.
I loved Richard’s deep understanding of how important culture is within boarding schools - how there are vast differences between a school with boarding versus a boarding school. Schools that see their boarding communities as ingrained in their whole value system.
You’ll hear about Richard’s absolute commitment, with his team at ABSA, to have all boarding staff accredited with professional Certificates and Diplomas - he absolutely understands that working within a boarding house brings with it a wide range of daily duties that go over and above what is brought to the classroom.
Furthermore he recognises the incredible opportunities for schools to encourage their teaching staff to become part of their boarding school houses and communities.
Enjoy this conversation with Richard Stokes and don't forget to like, rate and review this podcast!
Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo. This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
Welcome to this Episode 2 Season 2 of Destination Boarding. We’re here to demystify Australian Boarding schools and dig around into how they can become part of your families’ journey, or take a trip down memory lane if you’re an ex-boarder.
In this episode we’re chatting with Peter Gibbs or “Chicka”. A Gamillaroi man from the community of Weilmoringle, on the banks of the Culgoa River in far West NSW. Peter has over 30 years experienced in the community-development sector.
He has worked in shearing sheds, on cotton fields, for the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, TAFE NSW Western Institute and been an Advisor to both Federal and State Government Ministers.
Mr Gibbs has been instrumental in the establishment of the IPROWD Program, a training model that develops Aboriginal people for a potential career in the NSW Police Force. The concept for this model developed after the tragic death in Police custody of his sister Fiona.
Peter went to boarding school, and sent his children to boarding school with these experiences bringing a valued perspective to the conversation.
Need to find the right boarding school for you or your child? Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo . This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast, the Wiradjuri people. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Welcome to this episode of Destination Boarding. We’re here to demystify Australian Boarding schools and dig around into how they can become part of your families’ journey, or take a trip down memory lane if you’re an ex-boarder.
In this episode we’re chatting with Bec Austin.
Bec and her husband Andrew are the 5th generation of a family farming partnership on the western plains of NSW. They have three children, the eldest of whom is beginning boarding school next year and you’ll hear in this conversation the considerations that accompany the decision making process for Bec and Andrew around choosing the right school for their children, the emotional heaviness that can be part of that and some of the terrible situations that arose for families during covid and border closures.
The really interesting thing about Bec’s perspective on all of this is that she grew up 600km south west of Katherine in the Northern Territory. Bec was raised alongside her three siblings on Riveren, a cattle station a long way from anywhere. As she says, it was a glorious upbringing. Totally free and familiar.
We chat about her early years growing up and being part of the largest classroom in the world, School of the Air. We talk about her parent’s decision to send their four children to boarding school in Sydney and the heartfelt honesty about separation and then fitting in in a foreign environment.
Bec is a wonderfully open woman about to embark on her own years at boarding with her family and it was really interesting to hear her reflecting on her years at school. Enjoy.
Need to find the right boarding school for you or your child? Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo . This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast, the Wiradjuri people. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
WELCOME TO SEASON 2 OF DESTINATION BOARDING - The Podcast!
After a while in the making, we are finally launching the second series with many different incredible guests with amazing stories.
So if you're thinking of sending your kids away to school, or you're sitting on the fence, hopefully this podcast will help you make that BIG decision. I promise it will be life changing.
Happy listening!
Need to find the right boarding school for you or your child? Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo .This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo the one stop shop for all things boarding.We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast, the Wiradjuri people. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Ruby Riethmuller is only 24 years of age but despite being so young, she's making a huge impact on teenage girls lives across the country. Ruby after attending Ascham School as a boarder and heading off to college at St Andrews, knew she wanted to do something to give back. So she started an organisation called Woman Kind - helping young women, through the tough times of teenage hood. A simple way to describe what Ruby does is she offers a "big sister service" going in to boarding schools, running hands on programs offering 24/7 support for teenage girls. And it's going gangbusters!!
When we chat with Ruby she tells up all about her organisation Woman Kind and what drives her to want to help others at such a young age. We chat about the time she won the Buy From Th Bush Big Break Competition, and how she's starting a 24/7 support app to help young women, We talk about her school days at Ascham, the challenges boarding school brings being surrounded by SO MANY GIRLS and how to access support if you're ever in need of any.
Whether you're at boarding school listening to this, or parents who have been there and done it, you'll want to tune in to this one.
SHOW NOTES
Need to find the right boarding school for you or your child? Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo .
This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast, the Wiradjuri people. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Well if you like Rugby then you're definitely going to like this podcast!
Ned Hanigan is a weapon on the footy field and off it! He's donned the Green and Gold Jersey for the Wallabies playing 25 games for his country, he's played for the NSW Waratah's & this year has confirmed his return as a Waratah. But most importantly Ned is a brilliant mentor , team mate and friend to those around him.
When I speak with Ned you can tell he is extremely grounded and down to earth. The 26 year old country kid from Coonamble has lead a stellar career, all starting from his school boy days as a boarder at Joeys. In 2013 Hanigan was selected for the Australian School Boys Rugby kickstarting his rugby career, but he tells me in this chat that he wasn't always picked for the top teams at school! And how sometimes perseverance, losing your ego and just getting in and having a go can get you so far in life!
In this podcast, we chat with Hanigan from his apartment in Japan, where he's currently playing rugby union for Japanese side Kurita Water Gush.. We chat about Ned's upbringing on the land, his memories of boarding school - that first day walking the hallway at Joeys - and how boarding has shaped him into the person he is today.
SHOW NOTES
Need to find the right boarding school for you or your child? Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo .
This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast, the Wiradjuri people. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Welcome to our second bonus episode of Destination Boarding The Podcast. Many families right now, across Australia are getting ready to return to boarding school. It's an exciting, daunting and nerve-racking time, particularly for those doing it for the first time.
Whether it's your eldest child, or the first in your family to attend boarding school, it's a truely momentous occasion and one that we believe should be celebrated.
There's a period of about 2 weeks in my experience , where prior to leaving home we started to become anxious, AND parents might may not always be able to identify your Childs emotions . But you'll notice they start to become a bit cranky, acting out or having a short fuse with those around them. And you'll probably start to feel those final weeks are starting to feel dominated by arguments or lack of meaningful communication. Everybody reacts differently.
This is the time that we should celebrate. Putting an Art of Ceremony around the final days. Many schools religions, cultures have various rituals or cereomonies that mark the occasion of an important event in one's life. So why shouldn't we! When your child - regardless of their age moves away from home, It's always best to be served by a significant ceremony.
So some ideas I'd like to throw on the table are, Backyard BBQ's with close friends and neighbours or a dinner at a restaurant in town! You could even distract your child away from the thoughts of heading away and getting them to organise the event themselves! It's totally up to you !
In this bonus episode I chat with CEO of Boarding Schools Expo Amanda Ferrari about the idea of ceremony and why it's important to create a celebration around your Childs journey to Boarding School.
SHOW NOTES
You'll find a link to our blog on The Ceremony Of Leaving on our website.
Need to find the right boarding school for you or your child? Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo .
This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast, the Wiradjuri people. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Alanna Rennie was 13 years old when she left her family farm in Hillston, NSW to attend boarding school in Sydney. With aspirations, at a young age, to work as a corporate lawyer in China, and to speak fluent Mandarin, she knew she needed to pack her bags and head to the big smoke.
It was at Ascham that Alanna excelled. Taking up language classes after school hours and going on exchange to China and Argentina gave Alanna the skills and confidence to grow her career. 15 years later, and time spent abroad, attending university in The Gold Coast & Beijing, she now works for the global corporate law firm Baker Mckenzie as an associate.
When COVID hit in 2020, Alanna went from working long hours in her city office to transitioning back home to the Bush working online from her family farm. Saving herself $400 in rent a week, she tells me she now lives a more balanced life and she's saving money. Not only does she think her productivity has increased at work, she can also spend more time outdoors helping with her sisters Chilli crop and overall is a much happier person.
Alanna featured on this years 'The Bush Summit' and if you haven't listened to it you must. She's a fine example of young skilled woman reaching her career goals while working in the bush.
In this podcast Alanna and I reminisce about our boarding school days. We chat about how lucky we are to be back living in the bush, bringing our skill sets with us. And how others can be making that tree change. Alanna tells us about how boarding school has broadened her horizons, and how taking the opportunities to go on exchange really has helped her reach the top!
SHOW NOTES To listen to Alanna speak at The Bush Summit click here . To read Sydney Morning Heralds article about Alanna Rennie click here .
Need to find the right boarding school for you or your child? Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo .
This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast, the Wiradjuri people. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Some parents are well used to the drill - they know the ins and outs for packing when it comes to sending your child away to boarding school. But for many, it's the first time and with so many bits of advice coming your way, it's not always easy to wade through the suggestions and come out with the necessities.
So we've put together your Ultimate Packing List - whether you're a first time boarder parent or a well-oiled machine they'll be some great ideas in here for you.
Your child's school will provide a standard list, and we've included many of those general items. This list however, includes the special things that only a parent who has been on this road a few times will know about. Consider it the "tips and tricks" from a boarding school insider.
Amanda Ferrari, from Boarding Schools Expo Australia has sent three children away to boarding school, survived the packing, the goodbyes and the grief that follows. She's also consulted her wide networks from right across Australia - parents who have also been a part of a boarding school community.
Enjoy our very first Bonus episode on Destination Boarding, a podcast for boarder parents and carers from wherever they call home.
SHOW NOTES
You'll find a link to our updated Ultimate Packing List on our blog here: https://www.boardingexpo.com.au/ultimate-packing-list-boarding-school-updated/
Need to find the right boarding school for you or your child? Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo .
This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast, the Wiradjuri people. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Able Seaman Hohnberg has travelled majority of the worlds oceans. As a Marine Technician in the Navy, she sets out for months on end working on some of the biggest Navy ships in Australia. She's performed operations in 7 different countries, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan just to name a few, and she's only 25 years old.
Maddison was raised in the small town of Trangie, in Western NSW. With 4 other siblings, 3 brothers and an older sister, she grew up tinkering around the farm , getting her hands dirty , working old machinery; the perfect foundation to become a Marine Technician. She always knew she was technical-minded and wanted to do something practical when she grew up.
Maddie at the age of 13, with little options of going to high school in her town, set foot for Bathurst to Scotts College, a co-ed boarding school, 3 hours drive from where she grew up. Although her parents didn't attend boarding school, they sent her off with high hopes she'd thrive.
It was here she did, with a strict routine of homework, sport, and time spent with her friends she knew it was the perfect foundation to go on to be a part of the Navy. It's a stellar start to her career, but she tells me if it wasn't for boarding school she doesn't think she'd be where she is today.
In this podcast Maddie tells me of her hopes and dreams to reach the top, becoming a Marine Engineering Officer. She wants to defy the odds of women getting there. She also tells us how her experience living with 15 other young women , in the same room at boarding school has prepared her for the Navy and how sometimes in life you just have to give it a shot.
SHOW NOTES
Need to find the right boarding school for you or your child? Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo .
This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo, the one stop shop for all things boarding.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast, the Wiradjuri people. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Hello and welcome to "Destination Boarding" the podcast for families, parents and children about to embark on the journey to boarding school. Join your host Lucy Samuels, an ex boarder from the Western Plains of NSW , a journalist, a pilot and an advocate of boarding life to chat all things boarding. From packing those bags for the first time, to waving the kids goodbye, this podcast will talk about what to expect from life as a boarder and beyond! We'll also be talking to some phenomenal graduates who attended an array of boarding schools across Australia and how it shaped them into the people they are today! So if you're thinking of sending your kids away to school, or you're sitting on the fence, hopefully this podcast will help you make that BIG decision. I promise it will be life changing. That's all from us ! Happy listening.
SHOW NOTES
Need to find the right boarding school for you or your child? Head to www.boardingexpo.com.au or follow us on socials @boardingexpo . This podcast is proudly brought to you by Boarding Schools Expo the one stop shop for all things boarding. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast, the Wiradjuri people. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.